Welcome
Hello. I’m Nikki Heeren, a licensed psychotherapist with experience working in the field of mental health since 2015, including as a clinical director for a mental health nonprofit. I work with adults with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) using a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) approach. ADHD is characterized by a persistent pattern of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. For adults, undiagnosed symptoms of ADHD can lead to chronic stress, low self-esteem, and cause challenges in many areas of life. CBT is an evidence-based approach originated by Dr. Aaron T. Beck, who discovered that we can shift our emotions by working to change our thoughts and behaviors. Research supports using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help reduce symptoms of ADHD.
With a CBT approach, I help individuals to identify, challenge, and change self-talk (such as, “I must do this perfectly,” “I can do this later,” and “I can’t organize all these things”) that can contribute to ADHD symptoms of avoidance, procrastination, low-self-esteem, and overwhelm. I teach organization, planning, and problem-solving skills for other challenges that can come with ADHD, such as impulse control, anger outbursts, distractibility, low mood and anxiety. Additionally, I often help individuals with strengthening interpersonal skills, such as assertiveness, healthy boundary-setting, and active-listening for decreasing conflict and increased connectedness.
After working with me, clients with ADHD usually report feeling more hopeful and optimistic about their future. They develop new habits that lead to a decrease in overwhelm and increase in feelings of confidence and success. They often notice changes in their communication that lead to improvements in their relationships.
The number of sessions needed for completing treatment depends on the person. For some, this can be a short-term process (three to six months), for others, these topics can take more time (more than six months). This depends on various factors, such as how many areas of life are being affected, the severity of the problems, concurrent mood disorders, trauma history, medical issues, environmental stressors, and openness to trying new behaviors.
Please note: I offer therapy only - I do not prescribe medication. Contact your primary care doctor, psychiatrist, or psychiatric nurse practitioner for questions about medication. Also, I do not offer couples counseling.